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If you thought yesterday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Gotham Stakes at the Big A would lend a sense of order to the tangled Triple Crown trail, think again.

The bettors had a hard time choosing between Achilles of Troy, romping winner of the Count Fleet and Whirlaway over Aqueduct’s inner dirt track, and undefeated Keyed Entry, coming off a front-running score over First Samurai in the Feb. 4 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park. They eventually settled on Achilles of Troy as the 3-2 favorite, with Keyed Entry 8-5 in the field of 10 3-year-olds.

Nobody paid much attention to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s gelding Like Now, who was dismissed at 36-1 despite winning his prior two starts over the IDT, including the six-furlong Capossela Stakes, by 5½ and 23/4 lengths.

That oversight was a big mistake. Stretching out to two turns for the first time, Like Now gunned to the lead under Fernando Jara and shook loose on the front end while hugging the rail through moderate fractions (:23.1, :47.3), with Keyed Entry chasing him in second under new rider Edgar Prado.

With a furlong left to run in the mile-and-a-sixteenth Gotham, Like Now still led by daylight. Keyed Entry, also going a distance for the first time, was gradually closing the gap. But Achilles of Troy, after settling in well off the early pace, did not respond when Ramon Dominguez asked him for run on the far turn and was a done piece, backing up to finish fifth. He was pulled up past the wire and was vanned off, but there was no noticeable injury, according to the track vet.

Keyed Entry, in a promising effort for trainer Todd Pletcher, kept on coming but fell short by a neck. Maryland shipper Sweetnorthernsaint hung in for third. With his final time a so-so 1:43, Like Now, a Florida-bred son of Jules who could have been claimed for $50,000 last October, paid $74.50 keying a $235 exacta.

“We will definitely keep taking the steps toward the Kentucky Derby and run in the (April 8) Wood Memorial,” McLaughlin said. “We thought he would be successful stretching out, but you never know until you try.”

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(s,l) Undefeated Celestial Legend put her six-race winning streak on the line as 9-5 favorite in the Gr. 3, $100,000 Cicada at six furlongs. She quickly sprinted clear, set the pace to mid-stretch, when stalking Wild Gams, 5-2 under Eibar Coa, swung out, kicked in, to win by 3½ in a swift 1:09.3.

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(s,l) Deputy Glitters turned the tables on Bluegrass Cat by winning the Tampa Bay Derby yesterday. Bluegrass Cat, the 2-5 favorite who defeated Deputy Glitters in the Sam F. Davis last month, made a late run but Deputy Glitters ($18.80), under Jose Lezcano, pulled away for a two-length victory.

In the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, A.P. Warrior ($17), who finished fourth in his last two races before owner Stan Fulton sent his $1.3 million colt to John Shirreffs’ barn, held off two 3-year-olds trained by Bob Baffert – Point Determined was second and Bob and John was third.

Lawyer Ron paid $5.60 for his three-length victory under John McKee in the Rebel at Oaklawn. Red Raymond was second; Steppenwolfer third. Private Vow finished seventh.